Breaking: Another self-immolation today, Six Tibetans burn in two days

Phayul[Thursday, November 08, 2012 15:21]

Kalsang Jinpa's charred body, draped in khatak (Tibetan scarves), is laid down below a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Dolma Square in front of the Rongwo MOnastery in Rebkong, eastern Tibet.

DHARAMSHALA, November 8: In more heartbreaking news coming out of Tibet, yet another Tibetan set himself on fire today in an apparent protest against China’s occupation of Tibet.

18-year-old nomad, Kalsang Jinpa, set himself on fire at the Dolma Square in front of the Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, eastern Tibet. The former monk of the Rongwo Monastery raised a white banner with slogans calling for the Dalai Lama’s return and the rights of the Tibetan people before setting himself ablaze. He passed away in his fiery protest.

Sources tell Phayul that thousands of Tibetans have gathered at the Dolma Sqaure to pay their last respects to Kalsang Jinpa. Situation there is being described as tense with the crowd raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

Further details are awaited at the filing of this report.

Yesterday, Tamding Tso, a 23-year-old mother of one, passed away in her self-immolation protest in the same region. In another instance yesterday, three teenaged monks of the Ngoshul Monastery in Ngaba region set themselves on fire in a triple self-immolation protest. Dorjee, 15 passed away in his protest, while the condition of Samdup, 16, and Dorjee Kyab, 16, is not yet known.

Confirming today’s self-immolation protest in Rebkong, the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration also confirmed a fifth self-immolation protest that took place yesterday, November 7, in Driru region of Nagchu, central Tibet.

In two days, Tibet has witnessed an alarming escalation in the fiery protests with six confirmed self-immolations. These protests coincide with the Chinese Communist Party’s week-long 18th National Congress, which began today in Beijing. China's heir apparent Xi Jinping will be taking over the mantle of leadership, along with a new team, by the end of the meeting.

The deepening crisis inside Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests and a series of self-immolations that has now seen 69 Tibetans set themselves on fire, since 2009, demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.